Adjustable leg



J 1964 L. MASLOW 3,137,964

ADJUSTABLE LEG Filed Nov. 24, 1961 2% INVENTOR. 4 01/49 M451 0 w United States Patent 3,137,964 ADJJUSTABLE LEG Louis Maslow, Huntsville Road, Dallas, Pa. Filed Nov. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 154,458 6 Claims. (Cl. 45-139) The present invention relates in general to improvements in the construction of furniture such as cabinets, bookcases, or the like, which can be readily assembled from component parts, dismantled or modified, to provide a varied assortment of furniture, and in particular to an adjustable self-leveling leg therefor.

Shelving units of the type to which the present invention relates are frequently used in the kitchens of commercial establishments or in walk-in freezers and as a consequence, it is of ulmost importance that they be constructed so that they may be readily cleaned and will not provide any surfaces on which food may be lodged or caught. Shelving units of this type are usually formed of metallic rods or wires which provide the necessary strength and rigidity to thestructure and which may be very readily cleaned and kept in a sanitary condition when used in connection with the preparation or storage of food.

Shelving units of the type to which the present inven tion relates are provided with self-leveling or adjustable legs so that the units may be utilized under varying physical conditions. However, the construction of the prior art self-leveling leg devices has been such as to provide surfaces or contoured portions which constitute traps or receptacles for the accumulation of spilled food or other foreign particles or substances which result in the creation of an unhygienic condition when utilized in connection with apparatus used for the preparation or storing of food.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly novel adjustable leg device which preventsthe entrapment of food or foreign particles thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable leg device which is highly efficient in operation and which can be manufactured on a mass production basis at a relatively low cost.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of a knockdown shelving unit provided with an adjustable or leveling leg pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of FIGURE 1 taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 with a portion removed for purposes of illustration; and

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a shelving unit 10 which may be of the general type illustrated and described in my copending application Serial No. 126,709, filed July 25, 1961. The fragment of the shelving unit illustrated in FIGURE 1 constitutes a portion of a support or frame component 12 of the shelving unit. As here shown, the frame component or support 12 is provided at each end thereof with a pair of vertically extending metallic sup- 3,137,964 Patented June 23, 1964 "Ice port members or wires 14 and 16 which are interconnected by horizontal stiifeners 18 and 20. The stiifeners are interconnected by vertical supporting struts 22 and by obliquely extending supporting struts 24. The stiffeners 18 are each provided with a U-shaped expansion portion 26. The lowermost horizontal stiffener 20 is provided with an upwardly directed curvature 28 so as to provide a clearance above the floor on which the shelving unit 10 is disposed to facilitate cleaning of the floor.

Each support or frame component 12 is provided at each of the opposite ends thereof with an adjustable or self-leveling leg 30 pursuant to the present invention. As here shown, each self-leveling leg 30 comprises a preferably die-cast metallic body or housing member 32 which mounts an adjustable bolt 34 which extends downwardly therefrom. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the periphery of the housing member 32 is formed by a vertically extending planar surface 36 and by a vertically extending arcuate surface 38. The upper end 40 of the body member 32 is provided with arcuate inwardly directed complementary portions 42 and 44 which extend inwardly from the vertical arcuate surface 38 to define a slot 46 in which the end portion 48 of the stiffener member 20 is received, the arcuate portions 42 and 44 being staked thereover to provide a continuous arcuate surface as best seen in FIGURE 2. It will be noted that the continuous arcuate surface formed by the complementary portions 42 and 44 and the end portion 48 of the stiffener member 20 over which said arcuate portions are staked produces in effect a domed surface 50 at the upper end of the housing member 32 of the self-leveling leg assembly 30.

The housing member 32 is provided also with a pair of vertically extending bores 52 and 54 in which the vertical supports 14 and 16 are respectively received. More specifically, it will be understood that the housing member 32 is forced onto the lower ends of the vertical supports 14 and 16 until said vertical supports extend to the bottom of the housing member, the previously men'- tioned complementary arcuate portions 42 and 44 then being staked over the end portion 48 of the horizontal stiffening member 20 so as to retain the body member 32 in position on the vertical support members 14 and 16. In addition to the bores 52 and 54 which extend completely through the body member 32 longitudinally thereof, the body member is provided also with a bore 56 which extends upwardly from the lower end 58 of the body member 32, but which terminates below the upper end 40 thereof. The bore 56 has an upper portion 60 which is internally threaded and a lower unthreaded portion 62 which is of greater diameter than the threaded portion 58. The previously mentioned bolt 34 is adapted to be received in the bore 56. More specifically, the bolt 34 is provided with a shank 66 which has a threaded end portion 68 and an unthreaded portion 70 which extends from the shank portion 68 to the bolt head 72. It will be understood that the threaded and unthreaded portions of the bolt shank 68 are so related to the threaded and unthreaded portions of the bore 56 that if any part of the threaded bolt shank portion 68 is engaged with the threaded upper bore portion 60, the threads on the bolt 34 will not project below the lower end 58 of the housing member 32. Consequently, it will therefore be apparent that if the bolt 34 has a minimum threaded engagement in the bore 56, as for example, when the bolt 34 is adjusted to its maximum retracted position outwardly of the bore 56, there will be no thread portion of the bolt exposed beyond the housing 38 so that it will be impossible for any foreign matter or food to be engaged in the threaded portion of the bolt 34. In this connection, it will also be noted that the head 72 of the bolt is provided with a curved or domed portion 74 which also prevents I 3 the retention of food particles or other foreign matter on the head of the bolt.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the self-leveling leg assembly 30 may be adjusted as desired by adjusting the position of the bolt or leg 34 within the housing 32 by increasing or decreasing the threaded engagement of the bolt 34 within the bore 56, as may be desired. It will also be readily apparent that the selfleveling leg assembly 30 is so constructed as to prevent the retention of food particles or other foreign matter at the lower ends of the frame component 12. More specifically, it will be readily apparent that if food particles or foreign matter should fall upon the domed upper surface 50 of the assembly 30, such food particles or foreign matter will not lodge upon the housing 32, but due to the arcuate curvature of the domed surface 50 the particles will fall to the floor. In this connection, it will be further understood that the planar vertical surface 36 in combination with the vertical arcuate surface 38 will facilitate the movement of the food particles or foreign matter from the domed surface 50 to the floor and will also obviously prevent the lodgement of such unwanted particles along the outer surfaces of the housing 32. In addition, as previously indicated, since the threaded portion 68 of the adjustable leg or bolt 34 cannot extend below the bottom end 58 of the housing when threadedly engaged in the bore 56, no food particles or foreign matter can lodge within the threads of the bolt. In addition, since the exposed lower end or head of the bolt is domed or curved as at 74, food particles will also not be lodged thereon.

While I have illustrated and described the presently preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein without however departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a frame component having a pair of vertical support members and a horizontal stiffener extending between said support members and an adjustable leg assembly comprising a housing member and a leg member adjustably engaged in said housing member, said housing member being provided with bores in which said support members are received and having upper end portions engaged over said horizontal stiffener to retain said leg assembly in position on said frame component.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said upper end portions forming an upwardly domed surface with said horizontal stiffener.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said housing member having a planar vertical surface and an arcuate verti- 4- cal surface, having an upper marginal edge which defines a peripheral margin of said upwardly domed upper end.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said leg member having an upwardly domed head disposed outwardly of the lower end of the housing.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, said leg member having an upwardly domed head disposed outwardly of the lower end of the housing, and a shank extending therefrom, said shank having a threaded end portion and an unthreaded portion between said end portion and said head, and said housing having a bore extending upwardly from the lower end thereof, said bore having a threaded portion at the inner end thereof and an unthreaded portion between the lower end of the housing and the threaded bore portion and said shank portions having longitudinal dimensions related to the longitudinal dimensions of said bore portions so that the threaded shank portion cannot extend beyond the lower end of the housing if engaged with the threaded bore portion.

6. An adjustable leg assembly for a frame structure comprising a housing member and a leg member adjustably engaged in said housing member and extending from the lower end thereof, said housing member having an upwardly domed upper end and vertical surfaces extending from said upper end to the lower end thereof, said upper end having discrete openings defined therein and complementary to the contour thereof for receiving discrete portions of the frame structure, said leg member having an upwardly domed head and a shank extending therefrom, said shank having a threaded free end portion and an unthreaded portion between said end portion and said head, and said housing having a bore extending upwardly from the lower end thereof, said bore having a threaded portion at the inner end thereof and an unthreaded portion between the lower end of the housing and the threaded bore portion and said shank portions having longitudinal dimensions related to the longitudinal dimensions of said bore portions so that the threaded shank portion cannot extend beyond the lower end of the housing if engaged with the threaded bore portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A FRAME COMPONENT HAVING A PAIR OF VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS AND A HORIZONTAL STIFFENER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND AN ADJUSTABLE LEG ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOUSING MEMBER AND A LEG MEMBER ADJUSTABLY ENGAGED IN SAID HOUSING MEMBER, SAID HOUSING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH BORES IN WHICH SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS ARE RECEIVED AND HAVING UPPER END PORTIONS ENGAGED OVER SAID HORIZONTAL STIFFENER TO RETAIN SAID LEG ASSEMBLY IN POSITION ON SAID FRAME COMPONENT. 